Author Archives
Elizabeth Pelayo is the library media specialist at St. Charles East High School in St. Charles Illinois. She currently writes book reviews for School Library Journal. She is a member of the AASL AAUP Book Selection Committee. Also, she is a member of the nominations committee for the ISLMA Abraham Lincoln Book Award.
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Take & Go Craft Bags
Sometimes we all just need a break from our laptops and Chromebooks. Sometimes we need a way to relax, calm our minds, and re-center our thoughts. For many students crafting is the answer. This year I created a new section… Read More ›
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Scheduling Library Spaces
In my high school library we have always debated the best tool for scheduling our multiple checked out spaces in the library. We have yet to open, and I am still waiting to see if this school year will be… Read More ›
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Website Summer Updates
Since the pandemic I’ve wanted to be able to make changes to my library website. The way that students and teachers access the information the library has to offer has changed. I wanted to build an updated site that gave… Read More ›
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Anxiety Awareness in the School Library
Finding professional development graduate classes can be a difficult task in our profession. Not many approved universities or district classes offer specific courses for school librarians. Sometimes I feel like I’m pulling at straws to make courses fit my job…. Read More ›
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Games to Go: Connecting Teens with Board Games
Redefining and reorganizing my library space has been a huge focus for me this school year. I am completely looking forward to next year, being able to have students back exploring and interacting in the library space. After a massive… Read More ›
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To Kill a Mockingbird Themes with Student Choice
In my high school, teaching To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a requirement for all freshman English classes during second semester. This year I had a teacher approach me wanting to brainstorm ways we could make this book… Read More ›
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Reconfiguring My School Library’s Layout
When we think of librarianship, most of us don’t think about physical exertion and muscle power. Books are heavy, especially nonfiction. With my library closed I decided it was time to start moving things around in anticipation of next school… Read More ›
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Circulation Slump
For those of you working in closed libraries, I feel you. For those of you fighting your administration to just let one or two kids in, I understand you. I have been back in my library for two weeks now… Read More ›
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Top 5 Books for Teens New Year’s Resolutions
Just like adults, teens start the new year thinking about ways to improve, what they want to work on in themselves, new hobbies, goals for the future. The following is a list of the top 5 books that I will… Read More ›
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Navigating New Subscription Rollouts
Technology in schools has changed in the blink of an eye. What was a hard sell to school boards all over the country has now become a quick approval if it supports remote learning. I’m sure many of you are… Read More ›